Find treasures in downtown

By Dee Ryan – One of the newer stores on Wayne Road is AKA Treasures Thrift Shop.
Owned by Rachael and Kirt Harrison, it’s been open since October, 2013.
Inside you’ll find a little of everything.
If you are opening a new cottage this year, AKA is the place to shop.
You’ll find complete sets of dishes, glassware and barware.  They have small appliances; electric coffee pots, a Hamilton Beach Mixer, crock pots etc. You could also furnish a dorm room or a small apartment with AKA items. On the day that I visited the store, there was a very nice loveseat for sale.
The store has many toys, a like new Smith Corona typewriter, fragrances, linens and baby clothes.
The Harrisons have 3 sons:  Alex, 28, is at Michigan Tech. in the Upper Peninsula.  Kyle, 14, will be a student at Henry Ford Academy, and Alan, 4, does just what 4 year old kids do. The store hours are: Tuesday thru Friday—10a.m. to 6p.m.  Saturday they are open from 11a.m. to 3p.m and on Sunday and Monday they are closed.

Across Wayne Rd. is J.J.’s Styling Salon.  Coleen Scott has owned it for 27 Years.  Hair Stylist, Janet Verdi, has been with her since the beginning.  She also did lovely things with hair when the shop was “Sadie’s Salon”, owned by Sadie and Richard Metzigian.  A very loyal customer is Donna McEachern, our former Councilwoman, and Mayor Pro Tem, who travels from Monroe to have her hair done at J. J.’s.  How is that for loyalty?

Wayne’s Garden Club is getting ready for their bi-annual Garden Walk. It will take place on Saturday, June 27.  This year 7 gardens in Wayne and Westland will be featured.  On the morning of the 27th, Jean Radley and I and a team player to be named later will be selling tickets. We will be in the parking lot of the Congregational Church.   There will be a very large, handsome banner overhead proclaiming the “Wayne Garden Walk”.  The banner may also be seen at Wednesday’s Farmer’s Market which takes place each week at Goudy Park.
The banner was created by Joshua Phillip.  Joshua is employed by Cal Kemppainen, the owner of Cal signs.  Mr. K (Cal) is pretty much at his old location on Glenwood. The only difference is that the entrance to the business is now through the alley between Ash St. and Wayne Rd.
There you’ll be met by the very gracious Office Manager, Hannah Plumley.  She tells me that Cal Signs has been in Wayne since 1967.  Thank you to Cal Signs for the large banner.

Another store which celebrated their many years of serving Wayne-Westland and environs: Norman’s Market celebrated their 65th year.  They opened on April 1st, 1950, are still going strong, and show no signs of stopping—or even slowing down.

A big CONGRATULATIONS JENNY is in order for Jenny Johnson.  She’s been writer and editor of the Wayne Dispatch since its inception.  Jenny has helped me in every way possible.  She has corrected my errors, suggested articles, made last minute additions for me, suggested ideas when I couldn’t think of any, and in every way encouraged me.  Well! Jenny has just been made.
The Community Relations Specialist in charge of the Communications Dept. for Wayne Westland Schools.

I know you’ll all join me in wishing Jenny all the best in her new job.